Question 1

__________ is not a tenet of the RISC processor-design philosophy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Making the common case fast 
B)  Reducing context switch latency 
C)  Reducing the number of register-memory transfers 
D)  Keep hardware simple 
A)  Making the common case fast 
B)  Reducing context switch latency 
C)  Reducing the number of register-memory transfers 
D)  Keep hardware simple B

Question 2

What is the primary difference between event-driven simulators and script-driven simulators?

Accepted Answer

A)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by events that occur according to probability distributions, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by data carefully manipulated to reflect the system's intended execution environment. 
B)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by events made to occur to reflect the system's intended execution environment, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by data carefully manipulated based on probability distributions. 
C)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by traces of events that occurred in other systems built for a similar execution environment, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by a script of events that evaluators predict is similar to one that would occur in the system's intended execution environment. 
D)  The only difference is that event-driven simulators are controlled by events, whereas script-driven simulators are executed without any input regarding events. 
A)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by events that occur according to probability distributions, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by data carefully manipulated to reflect the system's intended execution environment. 
B)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by events made to occur to reflect the system's intended execution environment, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by data carefully manipulated based on probability distributions. 
C)  Event-driven simulators are controlled by traces of events that occurred in other systems built for a similar execution environment, whereas script-driven simulators are controlled by a script of events that evaluators predict is similar to one that would occur in the system's intended execution environment. 
D)  The only difference is that event-driven simulators are controlled by events, whereas script-driven simulators are executed without any input regarding events. A

Question 3

Which of the following statements about bottlenecks and saturation is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Removing a bottleneck will not always result in increased performance. 
B)  When a resource becomes saturated, processes interfere with each other because they must wait for other processes to complete using the resource. 
C)  A virtual memory system that is thrashing is an example of a saturated resource. 
D)  Saturation cannot occur if the system contains sufficient resources to fulfill all incoming requests. 
A)  Removing a bottleneck will not always result in increased performance. 
B)  When a resource becomes saturated, processes interfere with each other because they must wait for other processes to complete using the resource. 
C)  A virtual memory system that is thrashing is an example of a saturated resource. 
D)  Saturation cannot occur if the system contains sufficient resources to fulfill all incoming requests. D

Question 4

Which of the following would produce negative feedback?

Accepted Answer

A)  a processor in a system whose poor performance is due to thrashing 
B)  an overloaded Web server 
C)  a disk in a RAID array whose queue of pending accesses is short 
D)  an idle print server 
A)  a processor in a system whose poor performance is due to thrashing 
B)  an overloaded Web server 
C)  a disk in a RAID array whose queue of pending accesses is short 
D)  an idle print server

Question 5

What was/were the original motivation(s) behind the CISC processor-design philosophy?

Accepted Answer

A)  CISC instruction sets could be implemented with simple hardware, decreasing hardware-design cost. 
B)  Programs written for CISC processors executed quickly because they took full advantage of pipelines. 
C)  CISC instruction sets made it easy to code in assembly language, and programs consumed less memory. 
D)  Complex instructions were more-frequently used than simple instructions. 
A)  CISC instruction sets could be implemented with simple hardware, decreasing hardware-design cost. 
B)  Programs written for CISC processors executed quickly because they took full advantage of pipelines. 
C)  CISC instruction sets made it easy to code in assembly language, and programs consumed less memory. 
D)  Complex instructions were more-frequently used than simple instructions.

Question 6

What is a microbenchmark?

Accepted Answer

A)  a real program, whose executions on various systems are evaluated to make comparisons between systems 
B)  a small program or function that measures the time required for a system to perform a specific operating system primitive or system operation 
C)  a program that is designed to evaluate the performance of a specific component or subsystem, such as the file system 
D)  a measure of "raw horsepower," used for making quick comparisons between hardware 
A)  a real program, whose executions on various systems are evaluated to make comparisons between systems 
B)  a small program or function that measures the time required for a system to perform a specific operating system primitive or system operation 
C)  a program that is designed to evaluate the performance of a specific component or subsystem, such as the file system 
D)  a measure of "raw horsepower," used for making quick comparisons between hardware

Question 7

EPIC processors attempt to provide higher performance than so-called post-RISC processors by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  including substantially more execution units than do conventional superscalar architectures 
B)  branch predication 
C)  speculative loading 
D)  all of the above 
A)  including substantially more execution units than do conventional superscalar architectures 
B)  branch predication 
C)  speculative loading 
D)  all of the above

Question 8

Which of the following is/are true of analytical models?

Accepted Answer

A)  Analytical models can be constructed using queuing theory and Markov processes. 
B)  They are mathematical models of computer systems. 
C)  A large body of mathematical results exists that evaluators can apply in order to build relatively accurate models for new systems. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  Analytical models can be constructed using queuing theory and Markov processes. 
B)  They are mathematical models of computer systems. 
C)  A large body of mathematical results exists that evaluators can apply in order to build relatively accurate models for new systems. 
D)  all of the above

Question 9

Which of the following is not a useful application of microbenchmarks?

Accepted Answer

A)  determining the speed of a particular operating system primitive that is known to be used heavily 
B)  understanding the relationship between an operating system and a system's underlying hardware 
C)  evaluating a system's overall performance 
D)  making comparisons between similar systems, such as different flavors of UNIX 
A)  determining the speed of a particular operating system primitive that is known to be used heavily 
B)  understanding the relationship between an operating system and a system's underlying hardware 
C)  evaluating a system's overall performance 
D)  making comparisons between similar systems, such as different flavors of UNIX

Question 10

All of the following are common purposes for performance evaluation except __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  performance validation 
B)  performance projection 
C)  selection evaluation 
D)  performance monitoring 
A)  performance validation 
B)  performance projection 
C)  selection evaluation 
D)  performance monitoring

Question 11

The rationale for developing industry-standard benchmarks is that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  benchmarks are difficult to develop and it is more efficient to use already-constructed industry-standard benchmarks. 
B)  industry-standard benchmarks typically reflect the types of applications that are intended to run at a given installation better than a benchmark made at the installation or a production program. 
C)  benchmarks most often are used as a basis of comparison between systems constructed by different vendors. Industry-standard benchmarks are fairer for this comparison than those developed by individual vendors. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  benchmarks are difficult to develop and it is more efficient to use already-constructed industry-standard benchmarks. 
B)  industry-standard benchmarks typically reflect the types of applications that are intended to run at a given installation better than a benchmark made at the installation or a production program. 
C)  benchmarks most often are used as a basis of comparison between systems constructed by different vendors. Industry-standard benchmarks are fairer for this comparison than those developed by individual vendors. 
D)  all of the above

Question 12

Performance monitoring is best used to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  project the performance of a system that has not yet been built 
B)  evaluate which of several systems to purchase 
C)  decide how to tune a system to increase its performance at a given installation 
D)  determine whether it is worthwhile to upgrade a specific component 
A)  project the performance of a system that has not yet been built 
B)  evaluate which of several systems to purchase 
C)  decide how to tune a system to increase its performance at a given installation 
D)  determine whether it is worthwhile to upgrade a specific component

Question 13

Evaluators use traces to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  simulate the user environment a system is intended to execute 
B)  determine how well a system executes the programs it is intended to run 
C)  determine which operating system primitives are implemented inefficiently 
D)  all of the above 
A)  simulate the user environment a system is intended to execute 
B)  determine how well a system executes the programs it is intended to run 
C)  determine which operating system primitives are implemented inefficiently 
D)  all of the above

Question 14

__________ are most appropriate for performance monitoring.

Accepted Answer

A)  Profiles 
B)  Analytical models 
C)  Benchmarks 
D)  Simulations 
A)  Profiles 
B)  Analytical models 
C)  Benchmarks 
D)  Simulations

Question 15

The hybrid methodology would be more appropriate than the vector-based methodology for evaluating __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the performance of an application for a database system 
B)  how well a particular architecture executes system programs 
C)  how well a particular application will run on a system that does not yet exist 
D)  the performance an antivirus application 
A)  the performance of an application for a database system 
B)  how well a particular architecture executes system programs 
C)  how well a particular application will run on a system that does not yet exist 
D)  the performance an antivirus application

Question 16

Positive feedback can be misleading __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  When a resource has excess capacity because another resource with which it cooperates is a bottleneck. 
B)  When a resource has excess capacity because the system is sending requests to other equivalent resources, all of which are overloaded. 
C)  When a resource must remain idle for quick responses to critical requests. 
D)  When a resource has a small (or zero) queue length, but is slowly servicing requests. 
A)  When a resource has excess capacity because another resource with which it cooperates is a bottleneck. 
B)  When a resource has excess capacity because the system is sending requests to other equivalent resources, all of which are overloaded. 
C)  When a resource must remain idle for quick responses to critical requests. 
D)  When a resource has a small (or zero) queue length, but is slowly servicing requests.

Question 17

__________ is not a tenet of the EPIC processor-design philosophy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Allowing the compiler to choose the path of execution 
B)  Incorporating techniques from both VLIW and superscalar designs 
C)  Allowing the processor to reorder instructions 
D)  Simplifying processor hardware 
A)  Allowing the compiler to choose the path of execution 
B)  Incorporating techniques from both VLIW and superscalar designs 
C)  Allowing the processor to reorder instructions 
D)  Simplifying processor hardware

Question 18

Which of the following statements best describes why an evaluator must validate the results of an evaluation performed using analytical models?

Accepted Answer

A)  Systems are often too complex to model accurately, so the results of analytical models are often erroneous. 
B)  The evaluator needs the results of other performance evaluations to build the model in the first place. 
C)  Analytical models are useful in the development process, but many consumers distrust or do not understand analytical models. A vendor must validate the results of an analytical model before presenting the results to potential customers. 
D)  In general, it is a good idea to use multiple techniques to test a system. Additionally, because an evaluator often must make simplifying assumptions to model complex systems, other evaluations should be done to verify that these assumptions are valid. 
A)  Systems are often too complex to model accurately, so the results of analytical models are often erroneous. 
B)  The evaluator needs the results of other performance evaluations to build the model in the first place. 
C)  Analytical models are useful in the development process, but many consumers distrust or do not understand analytical models. A vendor must validate the results of an analytical model before presenting the results to potential customers. 
D)  In general, it is a good idea to use multiple techniques to test a system. Additionally, because an evaluator often must make simplifying assumptions to model complex systems, other evaluations should be done to verify that these assumptions are valid.

Question 19

A synthetic program is most useful for __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  thoroughly evaluating a system 
B)  determining which of two file systems performs better on a particular system 
C)  isolating which operating system primitives are causing bottlenecks in the system's daily use 
D)  predicting the performance of a system that has not yet been built 
A)  thoroughly evaluating a system 
B)  determining which of two file systems performs better on a particular system 
C)  isolating which operating system primitives are causing bottlenecks in the system's daily use 
D)  predicting the performance of a system that has not yet been built

Question 20

Why is an evaluation that uses only synthetic programs inadequate for predicting performance?

Accepted Answer

A)  In general, it is a good idea to use more than one evaluation technique to confirm the results obtained from each type of evaluation. 
B)  Synthetic programs are not real programs and typically target only a specific subsystem so they do not evaluate how the overall system will perform while executing real programs. 
C)  Synthetic programs provide valuable insight into which components are creating bottlenecks, but they do not always indicate the precise cause of a component's inefficiency. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  In general, it is a good idea to use more than one evaluation technique to confirm the results obtained from each type of evaluation. 
B)  Synthetic programs are not real programs and typically target only a specific subsystem so they do not evaluate how the overall system will perform while executing real programs. 
C)  Synthetic programs provide valuable insight into which components are creating bottlenecks, but they do not always indicate the precise cause of a component's inefficiency. 
D)  all of the above

Exam 14: Exploring Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking in Computer Systems

__________ is not a tenet of the RISC processor-design philosophy.

What is the primary difference between event-driven simulators and script-driven simulators?

Which of the following statements about bottlenecks and saturation is false?

Which of the following would produce negative feedback?

What was/were the original motivation(s) behind the CISC processor-design philosophy?

What is a microbenchmark?

EPIC processors attempt to provide higher performance than so-called post-RISC processors by __________.

Which of the following is/are true of analytical models?

Which of the following is not a useful application of microbenchmarks?

All of the following are common purposes for performance evaluation except __________.

The rationale for developing industry-standard benchmarks is that __________.

Performance monitoring is best used to __________.

Evaluators use traces to __________.

__________ are most appropriate for performance monitoring.

The hybrid methodology would be more appropriate than the vector-based methodology for evaluating __________.

Positive feedback can be misleading __________.

__________ is not a tenet of the EPIC processor-design philosophy.

Which of the following statements best describes why an evaluator must validate the results of an evaluation performed using analytical models?

A synthetic program is most useful for __________.

Why is an evaluation that uses only synthetic programs inadequate for predicting performance?

Exploring Operating Systems and Distributed Computing: a Comprehensive Overview

Understanding Computer Systems and Programming Concepts

Understanding Processes and Threads in Operating Systems

Exploring Semaphores and Multithreading in Operating Systems

Exploring Thread Synchronization and Mutual Exclusion in Java

Concurrency and Deadlock in Database Systems: Exploring Monitor Implementation and Thread Synchronization in Java

Operating System Scheduling and Deadlock Prevention: a Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Processor Scheduling and Memory Management in Operating Systems

Memory Management in Operating Systems: Segmentation, Paging, and Strategies for Efficiency

Memory Management and Address Translation in Operating Systems

Memory Management and Page Replacement Strategies in Operating Systems

Disk Storage and Raid Technology

Understanding File Systems and Database Systems: a Comprehensive Overview

Understanding Multiprocessor Organizations and System Performance

Understanding the Layers of the TCP/IP Protocol Stack

Understanding Distributed Systems and Operating Systems

Exploring Distributed File Systems and Grid Computing With NFS, AFS, Coda, and JXTA

Security Threats and Solutions in Cryptography and Access Control

Exploring the Linux Operating Systems Features and Functionality

In-Depth Analysis of Windows XP

Filters